Aspen/Snowmass, CO

$$-$$$: Aspen has a decadent luxury reputation, and for the many guests arriving by private jet, it is certainly possible to make the sky the only limit on what you spend, with luxury hotels like the Little Nell and St. Regis and a slate of fine dining restaurants charging top dollar. But Aspen is a real town, an old mining town, full of less ornate hotels, condos, and charming saloons, and it is entirely possible to do it on the beer and burger, rather than champagne and caviar, budget. The Aspen/Snowmass Resort is actually four ski mountains in one, linked by an elaborate free bus system, and those staying out at Aspen Highlands – the expert’s favorite – or in a condo at Snowmass, the largest, can make it a surprisingly affordable destination while still reveling in the town’s charms.
Photo: Courtesy Aspen Skiing Company.